Front sway bar on a bagged truck? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Slammed67 · 11-04-2002, 03:21 PM

Any of you bagged guys have a front sway bar installed? I had new ECE one installed on my rolling chassis when I had a 4x6 drop on it (before I bagged it). I haven't tried to put it back on because I assumed it wouldn't fit anymore (because the truck goes so damn low in the front). Let me know if it can be done. If I don't get any replies on this, I'll try you bolt it back on and see if it's possible and let you know the results.

Thanks!

Bustedup · 11-04-2002, 03:28 PM

Bolt the sway bar on upside down. When you lower a truck with a sway bar, the bar binds up on the lower control arm and turning it upside down free's it up.

Slammed67 · 11-04-2002, 03:30 PM

Hey, I hadn't thought of that. I'll give it a try. Thanks!

**1971Stepside** · 11-04-2002, 03:33 PM

Slammed. I have mine on my 4/6, but I have seen pictures of them on bagged trucks. I just don't know if it was a special bar. I wouldn't think you have any problems unless it hits the tie rods or idler arm. Hey, just don't lay under yours to see when you let the air out!!

I don't think flipping it over will make any difference for lowered trucks. I have the lowering brackets for the front of the bar and I'm sure you have those from ECE. You could always give those guys a call....they could answer the question I bet.

tom hand · 11-04-2002, 05:42 PM

I had one on a lowered 71 that I had. While it was not quite as low as some of you guys are going, it was pretty low. What I did was take the front mounts off and bolted it right to the frame, worked great.

Slammed67 · 11-04-2002, 05:47 PM

Well, the ECE bar I have came with shorter barckets for lowered trucks, but not necessarily for a bagged truck. Bolting it right to the frame might be the way to go. Thanks for the suggestion.

Slammed67 · 11-08-2002, 01:55 AM

Update:

Well, I was able to install the ECE 1-1/4" sway bar on my bagged truck. I went ahead and bolted it right to the frame. The "lowered" bracket that came with the bar would actually work better but you'd have to move it forward and therefore drill new holes. I'll probably end up putting those on eventually or making up my own bracket because the mounting point is on the curve of the frame. The bracket would provide a nice flat surface for the mouting brackets. Also, I had to located the bar as far forward as I could so the ends wouldn't touch the air bags. As the front end raises, the bar ends move forward, so you have to locate the bar mounts with the bags deflated. With the sway bar and 4-way bag control, the truck hardly rolls at all around corners. I'm ready to hit the high banks at the Kansas Speedway!

11-04-2002, 03:21 PM	#1
Slammed67 Progress = 0% Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 2,108	Front sway bar on a bagged truck? Any of you bagged guys have a front sway bar installed? I had new ECE one installed on my rolling chassis when I had a 4x6 drop on it (before I bagged it). I haven't tried to put it back on because I assumed it wouldn't fit anymore (because the truck goes so damn low in the front). Let me know if it can be done. If I don't get any replies on this, I'll try you bolt it back on and see if it's possible and let you know the results. Thanks! __________________ Jason - '67 GMC swb \| '57 Bel-Air 4dr hardtop \| '56 210 4dr Wagon \| 2000 GMC Sierra

11-04-2002, 03:30 PM	#3
Slammed67 Progress = 0% Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 2,108	Hey, I hadn't thought of that. I'll give it a try. Thanks! __________________ Jason - '67 GMC swb \| '57 Bel-Air 4dr hardtop \| '56 210 4dr Wagon \| 2000 GMC Sierra

11-04-2002, 03:33 PM	#4
1971Stepside Almost Satisfied Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,932	Slammed. I have mine on my 4/6, but I have seen pictures of them on bagged trucks. I just don't know if it was a special bar. I wouldn't think you have any problems unless it hits the tie rods or idler arm. Hey, just don't lay under yours to see when you let the air out!! I don't think flipping it over will make any difference for lowered trucks. I have the lowering brackets for the front of the bar and I'm sure you have those from ECE. You could always give those guys a call....they could answer the question I bet. __________________ 1971 C10 Stepside. LSx 6.0 with BTR Stage IV, Speed Engineering Headers, 4L80e transmission w/3200 Circle-D Stall. 3.73. Posi. Purchased this truck when I was 17. I started the rebuild (or take apart) in 1993. I have drug it around all over the country in pieces. Finally back on the road in 2021. "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do. Life's been good to me so far."

11-04-2002, 05:42 PM	#5
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	I had one on a lowered 71 that I had. While it was not quite as low as some of you guys are going, it was pretty low. What I did was take the front mounts off and bolted it right to the frame, worked great. __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

11-04-2002, 05:47 PM	#6
Slammed67 Progress = 0% Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 2,108	Well, the ECE bar I have came with shorter barckets for lowered trucks, but not necessarily for a bagged truck. Bolting it right to the frame might be the way to go. Thanks for the suggestion. __________________ Jason - '67 GMC swb \| '57 Bel-Air 4dr hardtop \| '56 210 4dr Wagon \| 2000 GMC Sierra

11-04-2002, 03:28 PM	#2
Bustedup Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Kent, Wash Posts: 53	Bolt the sway bar on upside down. When you lower a truck with a sway bar, the bar binds up on the lower control arm and turning it upside down free's it up.

11-08-2002, 01:55 AM	#7
Slammed67 Progress = 0% Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 2,108	Update: Well, I was able to install the ECE 1-1/4" sway bar on my bagged truck. I went ahead and bolted it right to the frame. The "lowered" bracket that came with the bar would actually work better but you'd have to move it forward and therefore drill new holes. I'll probably end up putting those on eventually or making up my own bracket because the mounting point is on the curve of the frame. The bracket would provide a nice flat surface for the mouting brackets. Also, I had to located the bar as far forward as I could so the ends wouldn't touch the air bags. As the front end raises, the bar ends move forward, so you have to locate the bar mounts with the bags deflated. With the sway bar and 4-way bag control, the truck hardly rolls at all around corners. I'm ready to hit the high banks at the Kansas Speedway! __________________ Jason - '67 GMC swb \| '57 Bel-Air 4dr hardtop \| '56 210 4dr Wagon \| 2000 GMC Sierra



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